"Yes, I telephoned for the man to fill the tank this morning. Look at
the automatic gauge and see if it isn't registered," for there was a
device on the boat that did away with the necessity of taking the top
off the tank and putting a dry stick down, to ascertain how much of
the fluid was on hand.

"Yes, it's full," replied Amy.

"Then here we go!" cried Betty, as the other girls shoved off from the
dock, and the Little Captain pushed the automatic starter. With a
throb and a roar the motor took up its staccato song of progress. When
sufficiently away from the dock Betty let in the clutch, and the craft
shot swiftly down the stream.

"Oh, this is glorious!" cried Mollie, as she stood beside Betty, the
wind fanning her cheeks and blowing her hair in a halo about her face.

"Perfect!" echoed Amy. "And even Grace has forgotten to eat a
chocolate for ten minutes."

"Oh, let me alone-- I just want to enjoy this!" exclaimed the
candy-loving maiden. They had been going along for some time, taking
turns steering, saluting other craft by their whistle, and being
saluted in turn.

"Let's go sit down on the stern lockers," proposed Grace after a
while, the lockers being convertible into bunks on occasion. As the
girls went aft, there came from the forward cabin a series of groans.